Typographical composing machine



Sept. 29, 1936. R. R. MEAD I TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Filed Oct.2, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 1 [N VENTOR vb TTORNE x5 R. R. MEAD 2,055,664

TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING' MACHINE I Filed Oct. 2, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 2Fig. 2.

Sept. 29, 1936.

l E I I l I i I I i 1 5 h ii INVENTOR BY w 6P I 6/! TTORNEY;

Sept. 29, 1936. D 2,055,664

TYPOGRAPH ICAL COMPOS ING MACHINE Filed Oct. 2, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR Patented Sept. 29, 1936 iTED STATES PATENT OFFICE Richard R.Mead, Queens Village, N. Y., assignor to Mergcnthaler Linotype Company,a corporation of New York Application October 2, 1935, Serial No. 43,136

20 Claims.

This invention relates to typographical composing machines such aslinotype machines of the general organization represented in LettersPatent of the United States No. 436,532 to O. Mergenthaler, whereincirculating matrices are released from a magazine in the order in whichtheir characters are to appear in print and then assembled in line, thecomposed line transferred to the face of the mold, the mold filled withmolten metal to form a slug or linotype against the matrices whichproduce the type characters thereon, and the matrices thereafterelevated and returned through distributing mechanism to the magazinefrom which they started.

More particularly, the present improvements deal with devices forremoving a matrix magazine from the machine when it is desired toreplace such magazine with one containing a different matrix font, andthey are especially applicable to machines employing a plurality ofmatrix magazines in bank. In the present instance, the base frames thatsupport the magazines are slidably arranged in a shift frame which inturn is supported in a relatively fixed supporting frame pivoted in themain frame of the machine. When the supporting frame is rocked upwardlyabout its pivot so as to permit a selected magazine to clear the usualassembler entrance, the base frame on which that magazine is supportedmay be slid forward out of the shift frame and the magazine then, by acombined sliding and rocking motion, suspended in a vertical position onthe base frame free and clear of the assembler entrance as well as theother magazines. The magazine may then be readily removed and replacedby another magazine Which can be positioned in the bank by a reversemanipulation of the parts.

In the embodiment disclosed, the forward movement of the base frame islimited by a pair of bars arranged for sliding movement in a foreand-aftdirection in the relatively fixed supporting frame at the rear of thebank of magazines. Only one pair of such bars is provided, and these arecommon to all of the base frames, being arranged to be connectedautomatically to the appropriate base frame as the shift frame is raisedor lowered to bring a selected magazine into operative position.

Although the improvements have been illustrated in connection with athree-magazine machine, for the reasons just stated, it is apparent thatthey could be used with equal facility in machines employing a greateror a lesser number. It may also be added that the magazines shown hereinare so-called main magazines,

although they could as well be auxiliary magazines.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a linotype machine equippedwith the present im- 5 provements;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. l withthe forward position of the magazine base frame and the magazinesupported thereon shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1and with the vertical suspended position of the magazine indicated indotted lines;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the machine illustratingthe automatic connections between the magazine base frames and thecommon pair of bars for determining the extent of the forward movementthereof; and

Fig. 6 is a sectonal view through a portion of the magazine base frameand the rigid shift frame and illustrating a detent with which each ofthe magazines is equipped and which is adapted to secure the base framesagainst inadvertent sliding movement in the shift frame.

The matrices are stored, according to font or otherwise, in themagazines A, three of which are shown, but of which a greater or lessernumber might be employed, if desired. The several magazines areremovably mounted upon separate base frames B, as by means of lips orshoulders B rising from the forward or lower ends of the base frames andengaging in front of cross ribs or plates A attached to the undersidesof the magazines. The three base frames B are each arranged for limitedfore-and-aft sliding movement in a shift frame C which includes a pairof side plates C a top cross plate C fastened at its ends to the sideplates, and a lower tie bar C fastened at its ends in said side plates,the whole as just stated constituting a rigid shift frame which may beraised and lowered to bring a selected magazine into active position.

The shift frame C is in turn mounted in a relatively fixed supportingframe D pivoted at its upper end (see Fig. 1), as at D to the machineframe and banking at its lower end upon a fixed rest D formed in saidframe.

It may be stated here that the magazines herein shown are of the shortvariety and, for this reason, there is employed in connection with themagazines, a channeled conductor E which serves to connect the activeone thereof with the customary magazine entrance F leading from thedistributing mechanism G. As will be noted from Fig. 1, both themagazine entrance F and the channeled conductor E are mounted directlyon the supporting frame D.

The magazines are each provided with a fixed bank of escapements Hadapted to be actuated in the usual way from the main keyboard but, asthese parts are Well known and form no part of the present invention,further description thereof would be superfluous. If desired, referencemay be had to the Kennedy Patent No. 1,561,244 for fuller informationwith respect to the keyboard connections. An assembler entrance I isarranged to receive the matrices as they are released from the magazinesand carry them to the composing or assembling mechanism.

In selecting one or another of the magazines for use, the shift frame Cis raised and lowered within the fixed supporting frame D to bring theselected magazine into registration with the assembler entrance I at thefront and the channeled conductor E at the-back.

The mechanism for raising and lowering the magazine shift frame C (seeFigs. 1, 2 and 3) consists in part of a pair of cams J arranged inspaced relation between the side plates C of the shift frame and mountedon a shaft J extending horizontally beneath the magazines and journalledat its opposite ends in the supporting frame D. As the cams J arerotated, they cooperate with a corresponding pair of rollers J mountedon the shift frame tie rod C to raise or lower the shift frame. into aposition wherein a selected magazine will be operative, the shift frameduring the adjustment just mentioned being guided by anti-frictionrollers J 3 with which the supporting frame D is equipped.

When it is desired to remove or replace a magazine, the entiresupporting frame D is rocked about its pivot D to raise the magazinesinto a position wherein the one selected for removal will clear theassembler entrance I (see Fig. l)

The mechanism for raising the supporting frame D includes a toggledevice consisting of a pair of pivotally connected members K and K themember K being rotatably connected to the cross shaft J and the member Kfastened to a rock shaft K journalled in the main frame of the machine,the'arrangement being such that, as the rock shaft K is turned tostraighten out the toggle members, the supporting frame D will be raisedto its uppermost position wherein the removal of the magazines can beeffected. The rock shaft K is operated by a crank handle K arranged atthe side of the machine through two arms K and K and an intermediatelink K the arm K being fixed to the crank handle K and the arm K to therock shaft K the intermediate link K being pivotally connected at itsopposite ends to said arms. If desired, the pivotally mounted supportingframe D may be counterbalanced by a tension spring D (Fig. 1) anchoredat one end to the machine frame or a bracket carried thereby andconnected at its ppo-site end to the rear arm of a lever D pivotallymounted adjacent its center and having a front arm equipped with ananti-friction roller D bearing against the frame D at the bottom.

The parts as thus far described, with the exception of certain detailsof construction of the shift frame C and the sliding arrangement of themagazine base frames, and except as hereinafter indicated, are known andconstitute no part of the present improvements. For a more detaileddescription thereof, reference may be had to the Burt Patent No.1,864,799.

As previously stated, the magazine base frames B are slidably mounted inthe rigid shift frame C and for this purpose are equipped on their lowerside edges with flanges b extending into corresponding grooves 0 formedin the inner faces of the side plates C of the shift frame. The baseframes are held in their normal positions within the shift frame each bya pair of retractable spring-pressed detents 0* extending through theopposite side plates and into said frames near the lower edges thereof.As shown in Fig. 6, the detents just referred to, include each an endportion 0 arranged to seat in a hole 0 provided in the frame, anenlarged flange portion 0 slidable in a hole 0 drilled in the side plateC and a smaller shank portion 0 that extends through a retaining plate Csecured to the side plate and which is provided at its outer end with aknob c resting against the outer face of the retaining plate justalluded to. Encircling the shank portion 0 there is a spring 0' reactingat one end against the plate C and pressing at its opposite end againstthe flange portion 0 to hold the detent in place.

In order to release a base frame B to facilitate the removal of amagazine (which has previously been selected by moving the shift frameto bring such magazine into operative position and then pivoting thesupporting frame D, by turning the crank K to raise the magazine and itsbase frame into a position wherein it will clear the top of theassembler entrance I as in Fig. 1), the operator grasps the knobs c ofthe detents associated with the selected magazine and withdraws themfrom the recesses in the base frame so as to release the latter andpermit its forward movement. The detents may be held in their retractedpositions by turning the knobs through an angle of approximately 90, inwhich positions pins 0 extending laterally from the flanges 0 willengage shoulders 0 formed in the side plates C to hold said detentsclear of the magazine base frame (see Fig. 6).

The base frame of the selected magazine (and with it the magazineitself) may now be slid forwardly in its own plane for a limiteddistance as determined by a pair of sliding bars D one arranged at eachside of the supporting frame D directly beneath the magazine entrance E.These bars rest on long lugs D formed on the supporting frame D and areheld in place and constrained to move in a fore-and-aft direction byL-shaped retaining plates D screwed to said lugs. Only one pair of slidebars D is provided regardless of the number of magazines in the bank,and said bars will always cooperate to limit the movement of the baseframe associated with the magazine that happens to be in register withthe magazine entrance channel E, i. e., the base frame of the magazineselected for removal.

The base frames B are adapted to be automatically coupled to the bars Das their respective magazines are brought into operative position. Thus,on each magazine base frame, there is a pair of lugs B extendinglaterally from the frame near the rear edge thereof and formed each witha pair of spaced forwardly extending ears b for a purpose presently tobe described. The slide bars D near their forward ends in turn areformed with L-shaped openings if so positioned that, as the magazineshift frame C is moved into its different positions, the lugs B willpass freely therethrough (see Fig. 5). When a selected mag- 7 5 azine isin operative position, the lugs B on the base frame associated therewithwill be positioned in the openings (2 and thus couple the base frame tothe slide bars D As the base frame of the selected magazine is slidforwardly, a small amount of lost motion between the frame and slidebars D is taken up, i. e., the base frame moves independently of theslide bars until the projecting ears b straddle the slide bars at thefront end of the L-shapedopening :1, whereupon both frame and slide barsmove together until arrested by the banking of laterally extending lugsd formed at the rear ends of the bars D against shoulders d presented bythe slide bar retaining plates D (see Fig. 4). In this manner theforward or projected position of the base frame is determined.

When the ears b of the lugs 13 straddle the slide bars D they preventany movement of the base frame except in a fore-and-aft direction asintended. Consequently, any attempt to raise or lower the shift frame Cexcept when the base frame occupies its proper position therein will beprevented by the bars D This is a safety feature which applies both whenany base frame is slid forwardly in the shift frame during the removalof a magazine and when that base frame is later slid rearwardly in theshift frame during the replacement of the magazine. In this latterconnection, it may be observed that while, in the initial lost-motionrearward movement of the base frame, the ears 2) will be positionedclear of the slide bars D this condition will not maintain at the closeof such rearward movement unless the operator locks the base frame inits proper place by manipulating the detents C When a base frame is inits forward or projected position, the magazine A thereon may be raisedwithout disturbing the other magazines in the bank to permit the crosspiece A to clear the shoulders B ,whereupon the magazine maybe slidforwardly with respect to the frame until arrested by the banking of theprotruding ends of a second cross piece A fastened to the magazine atthe bottom, against a pair of raised shoulders B located at the front ofthe magazine base frame and formed on parallel side plates B securedrigidly to the base frame at its opposite edges. In this position of theparts, the magazine A may be tilted clear of the other magazines into avertical position (see Fig. 4) where its removal is greatly facilitated.It may be noted, that the side plates B aside from guiding the magazineagainst lateral displacement, are formed with inclined ways B which actto support the magazine as it is drawn forwardly and to guide the crosspiece A above the shoulders B which, as will be remembered, determinethe normal position of the magazine on its base frame.

In order to replace a magazine in the machine, it is first hung in avertical position on the base frame 13 (which, of course, is then in itsprojected position), where it is supported by the cross rib A engagingthe shoulders B The magazine is then tilted back into its normal planeand slid rearwardly until the front cross rib A engages behind theupstanding shoulders B on the base frame, the latter in the meanwhilepreserving its projected position. When the magazine thus assumes itsnormal position on the base frame, the rear cross rib A rests against apair of shoulders B formed on the base frame at the rear end of the waysB so that by continuing to push rearwardly on the magazine, the baseframe will be slid rearwardly back into its normal position in the shiftframe. As the base frame starts to move rearwardly, the lost motionbetween its lugs B and the slide bars D will be taken up and thereaftersaid slide bars will be returned to their normal position, wherein theyare retained by spring detents 01 mounted in the slide bar retainingplates D and engaging in recesses 11 formed in the slide bars for thepurpose. Of course, when the base frame has been returned to its normalposition, the operator will again turn the knobs c on the detents C topermit the latter to return into the recesses b in the frame to hold itin place. With both the base frame and the slide bars D in their normalor rearward positions, the magazine shift frame C is, of course, againfree to be raised or lowered to bring any selected one of the magazinesinto operative position as before described.

In addition to the side plates B on the base frames, the magazines arefurther guided during their fore-and-aft sliding movement with respectto the base frames by bars A fastened to the magazines at the bottomsthereof and which project into guide channels B formed in the centerribs of said frames (see Figs. 2 and 3).

In the accompanying drawings the invention has been shown merely by wayof example and in preferred form, and obviously, many variations andmodifications may be made therein which will still be comprised withinits spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is notlimited to any specific form or embodiment, except insofar as suchlimitations are specified in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of an inclinedmatrix magazine, a base frame whereon the magazine is removably mounted,a support upon which the base frame is arranged to slide forward andbackward, and means carried by the base frame for suspending themagazine therefrom when the frame is in its forward position.

2. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of an inclinedmatrix magazine, a base frame having supporting means whereby themagazine is removably mounted thereon, a support upon which the baseframe is arranged to slide forward and backward, magazine suspensionmeans carried by the base frame and distinct from its magazinesupporting means, and means for determining the extent of slidingmovement of the base frame.

3. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of an inclinedmatrix magazine, a base frame whereon the magazine is removably mounted,a support upon which the base frame is arranged to slide forward andbackward, magazine suspension means carried by the base frame, and meansfor determining the extent of sliding movement of the base frame, saidmeans including a pair of bars slidably arranged for limited movement ina fore-and-aft direction and adapted to be coupled to the base frame.

4. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of an inclinedmatrix magazine, a base frame whereon the magazine is slidablysupported, devices on the base frame adapted to cooperate with means onthe magazine for sustaining the latter in normal position on said frame,and means on the base frame acting as the magazine is slid forwardlythereon to raise the magazine clear of said sustaining devices.

5. In a typographical composing machine, the 75 combination of aninclined matrix magazine, a. base frame whereon the magazine is slidablysupported, devices on the base frame adapted to cooperate with means onthe magazine for sustaining the latter in normal position on said frame,means on the base frame acting as the magazine is slid forwardly thereonto raise the magazine clear of said sustaining devices, and magazinesuspension means carried by the base frame and arranged to intercept themagazine in its forward sliding movement.

6. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of an inclinedmatrix magazine, a base frame whereon the magazine is slidablysupported, lugs on the base frame adapted to cooperate with means on themagazine for sustaining the latter in normal position on said frame, anda pair of inclined ways on said base frame acting as the magazine isslid forwardly thereon to raise the magazine clear of the sustaininglugs to facilitate removal of the magazine.

7. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of an inclinedmatrix magazine, a base frame whereon the magazine is slidablysupported, lugs on the base frame adapted to cooperate with means on themagazine for sustaining the latter in normal position on said frame, apair of inclined ways on said base frame acting as the magazine is slidforwardly thereon to raise the magazine clear of the sustaining lugs tofacilitate removal of the magazine, and a pair of shoulders located atthe forward end of the base frame and arranged to intercept the magazinein its forward sliding movement, said shoulders permitting the magazineto be tilted to and suspended in a vertical position on the base frame.

8. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a pluralityof superposed inclined matrix magazines, individual base frames whereonthe magazines are removably mounted, and a support in which the baseframes are arranged to slide forward and backward to facilitate removaland replacement of the magazines, each of said base frames when in itsforward position permitting the associated magazine to be supported atthe front of the machine clear of the other magazines.

9. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a pluralityof superposed inclined matrix magazines, individual base frames whereonthe magazines are removably mounted, a shift frame in which the baseframes are arranged to slide forward and backward to facilitate removaland replacement of the magazines, and common means for arresting aselected magazine in its forward position.

10. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a pluralityof superposed inclined matrix magazines, individual base frames whereonthe magazines are removably mounted, and a support in which the baseframes are arranged to slide forward and backward to facilitate removaland replacement of the magazines, each of said base frames when in itsforward position permitting the associated magazine to be tilted clearof the remaining magazines into a vertical position and having means forsupporting the magazine in such vertical position.

11. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a pluralityof superposed inclined matrix magazines, individual base frames whereonthe magazines are removably mounted, a shift frame in which the baseframes are arranged to slide forward and backward to facilitate removaland replacement of the magazines, each of said base frames when in itsforward position permitting the associated magazine to be tilted clearof the remaining magazines into a vertical position and having means forsupporting the magazine in such vertical position, and common means forarresting the base frames in their forward positions.

12. A combination according to claim 11, wherein the means for limitingthe extent of forward movement of the base frames includes a pair ofslidable bars mounted independently of the shift frame and adapted to becoupled to the base frame of the magazine selected for removal.

13. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a pluralityof superposed inclined matrix magazines, individual base frames whereonthe magazines are removably mounted, a shift frame in which the baseframes are arranged to slide forward and backward to facilitate removaland replacement of the magazines, and common means for limiting theextent of forward movement of the base frames, said means beingautomatically coupled to the base frame of the magazine to be removed bythe raising or lowering of the shift frame.

14. A combination according to claim 13, wherein the limiting meansreferred to include a pair of slidable oars mounted independently of theshift frame, and means on said bars and on the base frames adapted tocouple the bars to a selected base frame.

15. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a pluralityof superposed inclined matrix magazines, individual base frames whereonthe magazines are removably mounted, a shift frame in which the baseframes are arranged to slide forward and backward to facilitate removaland replacement of the magazines, means for raising and lowering theshift frame to bring a selected magazine into operative position, anddevices for locking the shift frame against movement except when thebase frames occupy their proper positions within said shift frame.

16. A combination according to claim 13, characterized by the fact thatthe common means therein referred to also act, when coupled to aselected base frame, to lock the shift frame against raising or loweringexcept when said base frame occupies its proper place in the shiftframe.

1'7. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of aninclined matrix magazine, a base frame whereon the magazine is removablymounted and provided at its forward end with means for suspending themagazine therefrom in a vertical position, and a support upon which thebase frame is arranged to slide forward and backward to a limitedextent.

18. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a pluralityof superposed inclined matrix magazines, individual base frames whereonthe magazines are removably mounted, each of said base frames beingprovided at its forward end with means for suspending the magazine in avertical position, a shift frame in which the base frames are arrangedto slide forward and backward independently, and means for controllingthe extent of the sliding movement of the base frames.

19. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a pluralityof superposed inclined matrix magazines, individual base frames whereonthe magazines are removably mounted, each of said base frames beingprovided at its forward end with means for suspending the magazine in avertical position, a shift frame in which the base frames are arrangedto slide forward and backward independently, releasable means forlocking each of the base frames in proper base frame whereon themagazine is slidably supported, a support in which the base frame isarranged to slide forward and backward to a limited extent, devices onthe base frame adapted to cooperate with means on the magazine forsustaining the latter in normal position on said frame, means on thebase frame acting as the magazine is slid forwardly thereon to raise themagazine clear of said sustaining devices, and magazine suspension meanscarried by the base frame and arranged to intercept the magazine in itsforward sliding movement.

RICHARD R. MEAD.

